Device for vaporizing substances

ABSTRACT

An electrically heated vaporizer comprises a base and an annular container removably mounted thereon. The base has means for connection to an electrical power supply and includes a broad lower portion and a narrower upper portion. The lower and upper base portions constitute an enclosed housing wherein an electrical resistance heating means is mounted and connected to the connection means. The container has an inner and an outer wall defining therebetween an interior annular chamber wherein an annular carrier for a substance to be vaporized is arranged. The inner wall of the container fits over the upper base portion and a bell-shaped rotary member is mounted on the upper end of the container. The upper end of the outer container wall defines outlet port means for the substance vaporized by electrical heating and the rotary member defines corresponding port means arranged to be moved into register with the container wall port means by rotation of the rotary member whereby the latter port means may be gradually opened and closed upon rotation.

O United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,872,280 Van Dalen 1 1 Mar. 18. 1975[54] DEVICE FOR VAPORIZING SUBSTANCES 2.813.187 11/1957 Riba Rovira21/119 X x 3.006.042 10/1961 Calandra 21/119 [75] lnventor: 0rnel1s .lanVan Dalen, Doorn.

. Ntthelldndb Primary E.1'un1ir1crC. L. Albritton [73] Assignee:lntergadgets AG. Zug. Switzerland [22 Filed: Apr. 25. 1973 [57] ABSTRACT[31] A L N 354.231 An electrically heated vaporizer comprises a base andan annular container removably mounted thereon. The base has means forconnection to an electrical [3O] Forelg Apphcatmn Pnomy Data powersupply and includes a broad lower portion and y 1972 SWiIZQflflnd6529/73 a narrower upper portion. The lower and upper base M y 1972Switzerland 7266/72 portions constitute an enclosed housing wherein an111110 211973 swillcrlllml 9396/73 electrical resistance heating meansis mounted and connected to the connection means. The container l l Cl1, 1/119. 12 /1 2. has an inner and an outer wall defining therebetween2l9/274;275 an interior annular chamber wherein an annular car- [5 lnt.rier f r a substance to be vaporized is arranged The [58] Field OfSearch 219/271. 274276; inner wall of the ontainer fits ver the upperbase i 120 portion and a bell-shaped rotary member is mounted on theupper end of the container. The upper end of l l References Cited theouter container wall defines outlet port means for UNITED STATES PATENTSthe substance vaporized by electrical heating and the 1.732.707 10 1929Winsboro 21/120 member corresPondlng P means 1908055 5/1933 ranged to hemoved 1nto reglster with the container 2.557.501 6/1951 wall port meansby rotation of the rotary member 2.608.993 2/1954 whereby the latterport means may be gradually 2.690.501) 9/1954 \lVinherg et :11. it 21/1I) X Opened and Closed upon rotation 2.737.572 3/1956 l-rnst 21/11) 31Claims, 14 Drawing Figures ik-ITENTED I 8575 872 280 SHEET 1 [If 9PATENTED MAR 18 I975 SHEET 3 [1F 9 PATENTEDHAR I 8 m5 SHEET 6 [IF 9 FIG.8.

mgmggmxems 7 3872.280

SHEET 8 0f 9 I l DEVICE FOR VAPORIZING SUBSTANCES The present inventionrelates to a device for vaporizing substances by means of electricalheating, particularly for disinfection of and medical treatment inrooms.

It is desirable for many purposes to add certain substances to the airina highly dispersed form, by way of example substances such as scentsor disinfectant substances. With highly volatile substances this may beeffected by arranging porous bodies soaked in the substances involved ina given room so that the evaporation occurring at normal roomtemperature ensures the distribution of such substances in theatmosphere. Naturally, such an evaporation process highly dependent onroom temperature and other factors is very indeterminate in respect ofthe quantity of substances so vaporized so that the method of sprayingsuch substances into the atmosphere has largely been adopted, commonlyusing spray containers under internal gas pressure. However, thisrequires that the substances involved are present in the spray containeris liquid or dissolved form in a highly gas-generating liquid, which ison the one hand inadmissible for many substances and, on the other,results in corresponding quantities of the gas-propelling liquidentering the atmosphere.

The present invention has for its object to eliminate the saiddisadvantages and relates to a device for vaporizing substances by meansof electrical heating, particularly for disinfection of and medicaltreatment in rooms, characterized by a base designed for connection toan electrical power supply and provided with an electrical resistanceheating element located in a fully enclosed housing comprising a broadlower portion and a narrower upper portion, by an annular containerremovably mounted on the base. The container is completely closed savefor at least one opening in its exterior wall but possesses an interiorencased chamber extending almost over the entire length of thecontainer, into which the upper portion of the base fits, the containerhavingits interior provided with annular carrier members for thesubstances to be vaporized while being equipped with a rotary memberenclosing its upper end and the upper portion of its exterior wall withthe opening in the manner of a bell, the rotary member having its jacketprovided with at least one corresponding opening which can be brought toregister more or less with the opening in the exterior wall of thecontainer by rotation so as to increasingly open, starting from a zeroposition in which the opening in the exterior wall of the container isfully closed by the rotary member, the opening through which thevaporized substances can emerge to the outside from the interior spaceof the container.

A number of embodiments of the present invention will now be discussedin greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1 through 14 in the drawing inwhich FIG. .1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the twopiece deviceaccor'ding to the invention; I

' FIG. 2 is anelevation, shown insection on the right, of the embodimentofthe complete'device according to this invention as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the connection of thedevice according to FIG. 2 to a power socket;

FIG. 4 is an electrical circuit diagram of a further embodiment of thebase of the device according to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cylindrical container of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is an elevation, shown in section on the right, of aninterchangeable container of the device according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an elevation, shown in section on the right, of anotherembodiment of the complete device according to this invention;

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 of a further embodiment of thebase of the device;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the cylindrical container of FIG. 10;

FIG. 10 is an elevation, shown in section on the right, of aninterchangeable container of the device according to FIG. 7;

FIGS. 11 through 13 are diagrammatic views of symbols for varioussubstances contained in the container according to FIGS. 6 and 10;

FIG. 14 is an elevation, shown in section on the right, of anotherembodiment of the device.

A characteristic of the present devices for vaporizing substances bymeans of electric heating is the fact that they are formed of twoprincipal portions diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 1. One portion isa base 10 and the other an annular container 11 which may be attached tothe base. This design of the present device offers the advantage thatthe same base 10 may be used for various removably attachable containers11 holdingdifferent substances to be vaporized.

FIG. 2 is an elevation of a two-piece device in assembled condition, thebase 10 being located below and the container 11 above the dot-dash linein the outside view on the left of the vertical centre line. The base isdesigned for connection to the electrical power supply and is provided,in the embodiment of FIG. 2, with circular plugs 12 designed forinsertion in a socket 13 of an electric current system which isdiagrammatically shown in FIG. 3. If desired, the two plugs 12 may alsobe complemented by a third plug designed for grounding if the socket 13is equipped with a third bush designed for grounding as indicated inFIG. 3. While being arranged in parallel with the centre axis in FIG. 2,the plugs 12 may, if formed of a sufficiently elastic material, besomewhat inclined towards the centre axis 14 in order to providemechanical prestressing which ensures reliable attachment of the deviceto the socket 13. It is obvious that, for use of the present device incountries with differently standardized sockets for the current system,plugs of appropriately different design may be provided on the base 10,by way of example flat plugs 15 (FIG. 8). However, if the device is byway of example intended for use in vehicles, the base is provided withan appropriate plug-in connection for the current supply so that, by wayof example in automobiles, the base 10 can be equipped with a plug-inconnectionforinsertion in place. of the cigar lighter.

The base 10 is provided with a fully enclosed housing that comprises abroad lower portion 16 and a narrower upper portion 17. Arranged-in thebroad .lower portion 16 are the electrical resistance heating elements18 which are connected to one of the two connecting pins 12. Furtherarranged in the lower portion 16 is a rheostat 181 connected, in serieswith the resistance heating elements 18, to other pin 12. The upperportion 17 is formed of a heat-resistant noninflammable material, by wayof example a suitable nylon material such as Makrolo'n. The resistanceheating element 18 is so designed that an elevated temperature isgenerated in the upper portion 17 of the base when the device isoperated by the electrical power supply, the temperature being dependenton the setting of the rheostat 181. The power input from the currentsupply. is preferably in the range between 1 and 10 Watts. By way ofexample', two resistance heating elements 18 of 14,000 Ohms each and arheostat 181 with a range of adjustment from to 4,000 Ohms for a powersupply system of 220 Volts have proved suitable. The selection of theresistance heating elements 18 and the 'rheostat18l also depends on thetemperature that is desired to be-obtained in the upper portion 17, thesubstance to be vaporized in the container 11 and its volatilizationtemperature being the decisive factors. At all events the heatingelements 18 and the rheostat 181 may, by selection of the electricalresistance values, readily be adjusted to all requirements for thevolatilization of the substances contemplated.

The lower portion 16 advantageously consists of a transparent materialand has its interior provided with a light source 23 connected to theplugs 12. In the embodiment according to FIG. 2 this electrical lightsource 23 consists of a'glow-discharge lamp which is in the usualfashion connected, via a resistance 24, to the plugs 12.-ln theoperation of the device according to FIG. 2 in connection with anelectric current system this glow-dischargelamp 23 will light up afterconnection to the socket, which may be clearly observed through thewallof the lower portion 16 and the outer ring 21 which are both formedof a transparent mate rial. On the one hand, the light serves as asignal and indicates that the device is in operation to vaporizesubstances. On the other hand, this light enables the base ways assume avery definite position relative to one another also if the container 11and the rotary member 36 are removed from'the base as described ingreater detail below, and replaced by another appropriate container 11with a similar rotary, member 36.

Provided in the base 10 of the device according to FIG. 2 for theimprovement of heat conduction from the resistance heating elements 18to the upper portion 17 is a duct formed of a material which is highlyheatconducting, such as a copper alloy commercially sold under the nameof LATAN. The duct consists of an umbrella 187 covering the resistanceheating elements 18 and continues in the shape of a tube 188 whichextends into the narrow upper portion 17 on the interior surface ofwhich it rests.

In order to shield the light source 23 against the heat of the adjacentresistance heating elements 18, the em- 10 to be used as a night lightor auxiliary light source alone, i.e., without connected container 11.If desired, the rheostat 181 may also be combined, as shown in thecircuit diagram according to FIG. 4, with an ON/OFF switchwhichconsists, by way of example, of the OFF contact 182 and the ONcontact 183 of the slide 184. In the position on the OFF contact 182 thecircuit for the heating elements 18 and the light source 23 is thencompletely interrupted. Only in the position on the ON contact 183 ofthe slide 184 will the light source 23 begin to glow and theminimumpower be supplied to the heating elements. However, it is also possibleto connect the circuit for the light source 23 not to the ON contact 183as shown in FIG. 4 but to the connecting line between the rheostat 181and the two resistance heating elements 18 arranged in parallel; thebrightness of the light source 23 will then be increased as the heatingelements 18 are supplied with a higher voltage, i.e., more intenselyheated. Instead of the design of the rheostat 181 with the ON/OFFcontacts 183 and 182 shown in FIG. 4, any other design with an ON/- OFFswitch of the rheostat may be employed.

bodiment of the device according to FIG. 2 is provided with a wall 190which is advantageously reflecting. Again, a reflecting shield 189 isprovided between the rheostat181 and the resistance heating elements 18,the shield being so designed that the heat enamating from the rheostat181 may pass into the duct 188.

The base 10 to be connected to the power supply system must be designed,in respect of material and construction, so as to comply'with theofficial regulations in force. The underside 25 of the base 10 may beused to bear appropriate data relating to the safety factor and otherinstructions.

As appears from the longitudinal section on the right in FIG. 2, theupper portion 17 forms a unitary body with the broadlower portion 16,this bodybeing locked with thebase 1t1.in El. 2.- This.. ontainerLliiofann lar configuration and fully closed save for a slot 35 in theexterior wall '30. Inner wall 32 of container 11 defines interior recess31 which extends over almost the entire length of the container andinterior chamber of the container is annular incross-section. The recess31 is-so designed thatthe upper portion 17 of the base fits into it. Inorder to obtain the best possible heat transfer from the upper portion17 of the base 10 to the inner wall 32 of the container 11, the innersurface of the wall 32 of the container should contact the outsidesurface of the upper portion 17 of the base without forming an air gap(the air gap indicated in FIG. 2 is shown only for better identificationof the upper portion 17 and the inner wall 32 but should not be presentin reality). The exterior wall 30 of the container 11 projects somewhatfrom its bottom 34 and forms a skirt 22 which serves, as previouslystated with reference to FIG. 2, for insertion of the container in thegap between the lower portion 16 and the outer ring 21 of the base 10.Since the lower portion of the container 11 may be somewhat compressedowing to the extended inner recess 31, proper dimensioning of the outerring -21 at the base 10 may ensure that the container 11 is 21 may beprovided, at a suitable location, with a projection and a groove so thatthecontainer 11 can be inserted in the base only in a certain positionrelative to the base.

Provided at a certain point in the outer wall 30 of the container 11 isa slot 35 with a width of between 2 and 8 mm, and a length not less thanmm, indicated by broken lines in FIG. 6. This slot serves forcommunication of the interior chamber 33 of the container 11 with theoutside, but is normally closed by the rotary member 36 which covers theupper side 37 of the container 11 and the upper part of its outside wall30 as a bell would do. The rotary member 36 is also equipped with anopening 41 so that, if the rotary member 36 is rotated, its opening4lcan be caused more or less to register with the slot 35 in the outsidewall 30 of the container in order that, starting from a zero position inwhich the slot 35 in the outside wall 30 0f the container is fullyclosed, first a fraction, then an increasing portion and finally theentire slot in the outside wall 30 of the container will be opened forthe emergence of the substances to be vaporized from the interior space33 of the container 11.

Provided on the upper edge of the rotary member 36 are a gripping ring38 and detent recesses which cooperate with corresponding detents on theouter .wall 30 of the container 11 so as to define both the zeroposition and the maximum position in which the opening 41 of the rotarymember 36 completely closes and, respectively, completely opens the slot35 in the exterior wall 30 of the container 11. The rotary member 36 mayadvantageously be provided with an indicator 39 which moves, togetherwith the rotary member 36 when he latter is rotated, past suitable markson the outside wall 30 of the container 11 and shows both the zeroposition and the maximum position of the rotary member 36. If desired,marks other than the zero position may be provided with numerals such asfor the quantity of vaporized substance supplied to the atmosphere perhour in any one position.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the upper side of the rotary member 36 isprovided with an indicator 40 in the form of a circular mark index whichshows what kind of substance to be vaporized the container 11 holds.This indicator may, by way of example, consist of a symbol, such as aninsect as shown in FIG. 5 which is designed to indicate that thecontainer holds an insecticide to be vaporized. The borders of thesymbol may be in a color that corresponds to the color of the grippingring 38. Another suitable symbol is shown in FIG. 11 which, by way ofexample, identifies a container with a flower scent. The symbolaccording to FIG. 12 is designed to characterize a forest scent whilethe symbol in FIG. 13 would indicate herb, peppermint and similarscents.

Located in the interior chamber 33 of the container 11 are annularcarrier members 42 for the substances to be vaporized which consist, byway of example, of a porous plastic material or a cellulosic materialand are soaked in the substance involved. While generally all porouscarrier materials which do not themselves vaporize are suitable forscents, vaporizable medical substances and insecticidal or disinfectantsubstances frequently impose special demands on the carrier material. Byway of example, mineral porous materials such as asbestos have provensuitable for this purpose. Carrier rings 42 formed of asbestos have alsoproved their suitability for soaking in dimethyl 2.2 dichlorovinylphosphate which represents an insecticidal substance to be vaporized. Itis also of advantage for the outside wall 30 of the container 11 to beformed of a transparent material at least in its lower portion whichprojects from the rotary member 36 since carrier rings 42 may then beused of which the colour gives an indication of the quantity of thesubstance to be vaporized which is still available. If carrier ringsformed of light asbestos are employed, they will commonly assume adarker coloration after being soaked in the substance to be vaporized,and resume their originally lighter colour only when the substanceinvolved has been largely consumed.-

The base 10 of the embodiment according to FIG. 7 is provided with afully enclosed housing that comprises a broad lower portion 16 and anarrower upper portion 17. The narrow upper portion 17 encloses theelectrical resistance heating element 18 which is connected, via thelead 19, to the right-hand one of the two connecting pins 12. This upperportion 17 consists of a heatresistant non-inflammable material, by wayof example a suitable nylon material such as Makrolon. The resistanceheating element 18 is so designedthat a temperature higher than about120C is generated in the upper portion 17 of the base when the device isoperated by the electrical power supply. The power input from thecurrent supply system is preferably in the range between 1 and 5 Watts.By way of example, a heating element 18 with a resistance of 33,000 Ohmshas proved appropriate for a power supply system of 220 Volts. Inconnection with a power supply system with a voltage of Volts a heatingelement with about 15,000 Ohms may be employed while a heating elementwith a resistance of 56,000 Ohms is appropriate for power supply systemswith a voltage of 440 Volts. The selection of the resistance heatingelement 18 also depends on the temperature that is desired to beobtained in the upper portion 17, the substance to be vaporized in thecontainer 11 and its volatization temperature being the decisivefactors. At all events the heating element 18 may, be selection of itselectrical resistance, readily be adjusted to all requirements for thevolatilization of the substances contemplated.

As appears from the longitudinal section on the right in FIG. 7, theupper portion 17 here forms a unitary body with the broad lower portion16, this body being locked in a suitable groove in the outer ring 21 bymeans of a bolt 20. Located between the lower portion 16 and the outerring 21 is a gap which is open in the upward direction and serves forinsertion of the lower edge 22 of the container 11. The lower portion 16advantageously consists of a transparent material and has its interiorprovided with a light source 23 connected to the plugs 12. In theembodiment according to FIG. 7 this electrical light source 23 consistsof a glowdischarge lamp which is in the usual fashion connected, via aresistance 24, to the plugs 12. In the operation of the device accordingto FIG. 7 in connection with a current system this glow-discharge lamp23 will light up after connection to the socket, which may be clearlyobserved through the wall of the lower portion 16 and the outer ring 21which are both formed of a transparent material. On the one hand, thelight serves as a signal and indicates that'the device is in operationto vaporize substances. On the other hand, this light enables the base10 to be used as a nightlight or auxiliary light source alone, i.e.,without connected container 11.

Provided in the outer wall 30 of the container 11 at a predeterminedregular distance from one another are four holes 35 with a diameter ofbetween 3 and 6 mm, indicated by broken lines in FIG. 10. These holesserve for connection of the interior chamber 33 of the container 11 withthe outside, but are normally closed by the rotary member 36 whichcoversthe upper side 37 of the container 11 and the upper part of itsoutside wall 30 as a bell would do. The rotary member 36 is alsoequipped with four passage holes (not visible in FIG. 10) so that, ifthe rotary member 36 is rotated, its holes can be consecutively broughtinto register with the holes 35 in the outside wall 30 of the containerin order that, starting from a zero position in which all holes of theoutside wall 30 of the container are closed, first one hole, then twoholes, then three holes and finally four holes in the outside wall 30 ofthe container can be opened for the emergence of the substances to bevaporized from the interior chamber 33 of the container 11. i

Provided on the lower edge of the rotary member 36 i are a gripping ring38 and detent recesses which cooperate with corresponding detents on theouter wall 30 of the container 11 so as to define both the zero por tionof the rotary member 36 and those positions in which one or severalholes of the rotary member 36 are in register with the holes 35 in theexterior wall 30 of the container 11. The gripping ring 38 mayadvantageously be provided with an indicator which moves, together withthe rotary member 36 when the latter is rotated, past the marks 39 onthe outside wall 30 of the container 11 and shows both the zero positionof the rotary member 36 and the number of the holes 35 in the container11 which have been opened. If desired, the zero position and the marks39 may be designated by numerals 0, 1,2, 3, 4 or in some other suitablemanner.

The two-piece devices for the vaporization of substances as disclosedabove may be used not only for vaporizing scents or insecticides butsuitable carrier materials may also be soaked in medicinal substanceswhich, when vaporized, enable prophylactic treatment of the respiratorysystem or treatment for disorders in the respiratory system to beeffected. Vaporizable germicidal and disinfecting substances may also beemployed with the present invention. Since container 11 can be removedfrom the base 10 when and as desired, it is also possible to remove acontainer not yet-exhausted, to close it by rotating the rotary member36 into its zero position, to store it and to use the base 10 with someother container 11 of different content.

In the shown embodiments of the device for vaporizing substances it is aparticular advantage that the in tensity of vaporization can be adjustedby the rheostat 181 actuated by the rotary member 36, the opening 41 forthe emergence of the vaporized substances from the slot 35 in thecontainer being increased at the same time. This measure has proved tobe of advantage par-l ticularly in the disinfection of rooms and inpreparing incandescent lamp 18 which is connected, via the leads 19, tothe two connecting pins 12. This upper portion 17 consists of aheat-resistant, non-inflammable material, by way of example a suitablenylon material such as Makrolon. Theincandescent lamp 18 is so designedthat a temperature about 5-l0C higher than the room temperature isgenerated in the upper portion 17 of the base when the device isoperated by the electrical power supply. The power input from thecurrent supply system is preferably in the range between 1 and 5 Watts.If desired, the incandescent lamp 18 can be connected to the connectingpins 12 via a series resistance.

The selection of the lamp 18 also depends on the tcmperature that isdesired to be obtained in the upper portion 17, the substance to bevaporized in the container and its volatilization temperature being thedecisive factors. At all events the lamp 18 may, by adequate selectionof its electrical resistance, readily be adjusted to all requirementsfor the volatilzation of the substances contemplated.

As appears from the longitudinal section on the right in FIG. 14, theupper portion 17 forms a unitary body with the broad lower portion 16,this body being locked in a suitable groove in the outer ring 21 bymeans of a bolt 20. Located between the lower portion 16 and the outerring 21 is a gap which is open in the upward direction and serves forinsertion of the container 11. The upper portion 17 advantageouslyconsists of a transparent material. In the operation of the device inconnection with a current system this incandescent lamp 23 will light upafter connection to the socket, which light may be clearly observedthrough the wall of the lower portion 16 and the outer ring 21 when bothare formed of a transparent material. On the one hand, the light servesas a signal and indicates that the device is in operation to vaporizesubstances. On the other hand, this light enables the base 10 to be usedas a night light or auxiliary light source alone, i.e., withoutconnected container 11.

In the latter embodiment the lamp 18 is attached to the inner wall ofthe upper portion by means of a bridge piece. It is also possible toprovide the lower ring portion 21 of the base 10 with a lamp holder(socket), into which the incandescent lamp is screwed or inserted, afterwhich the upper portion 17 is placed over the lamp l8 and is attached toouter ring 21 bymeans of the edge 20. It is. advantageous to use onoblong lamp 18 which fills substantially the full inner room of the thinneck of the upper portion. It is also possible to use an oblong lamp 18which is mounted in a lamp holder upper portion, the lower and upperportions constituting an enclosed housing, and

b. an electrical resistance heating means mounted in the enclosedhousing and connected to the connection means,

2. an annular container and having an upper end and a lower endremovably mounted on the base, the

container having an inner and an outer wall defining therebetween aclosed interior annular chamber extending substantially the length ofthe container,

a. the inner wall of the container fitting over the upper portion of thebase,

b. annular carrier means carrying a substance to be vaporized arrangedin the interior annular chamber of the container, and

c. a bell-shaped rotary member mounted on the upper end of thecontainer,

d. the upper end of the outer wall of the container defining outlet portmeans for the substance vaporized by electrical heating and the rotarymember defining corresponding port means arranged to be moved intoregister with the port means in the container wall by rotation of therotary member whereby the latter port means may be gradually opened andclosed upon said rotation.

2. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the connection means comprises aplug-in connection capable of being connected to the electrical powersupply in a vehicle.

3. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising a control circuitconnecting the heating means to the connection means for controlling thetemperature of the heat generated by the heating means, the controlcircuit comprising arheostat.

4. The vaporizer of claim 3, wherein the heating means comprises twoelectrical resistance heating elements connected in parallel to eachother and connected in series to the rheostat and the connection means.

5. The vaporizer of claim 4, wherein the heating elements are capable ofconsuming a maximum power of 10 watts in dependence on the setting ofthe rheostat.

6. The vaporizer of claim 3, wherein the rheostat is arranged in thelower portion of the base and further comprising a rotary pin affixed tothe rheostat and extending therefrom through the upper portion of thebase to the rotary member, the rotary pin being coupled to the rotarymember for rotation therewith.

7. The vaporizer of claim 6, further comprising a highly heat-conductingduct mounted in the enclosed housing of the base, the duct comprising anumbrellashaped portion covering the heating means and a tubular portionextending from the umbrellashaped portion into the upper portion of thebase.

8. The vaporizer of claim 3, wherein the rheostat is arranged in thelower portion of the base and comprises an ON/OF F switch, and furthercomprising a rotary pin affixed to the rheostat for adjusting therheostat between positions of increased and reduced resistance, therotary pin extending from the rheostat through the upper portion of thebase to the rotary member, the rotary pin being coupled to the rotarymember for rotation therewith and corresponding adjustment of therheostat between said positions, and the switch being arranged to assumeits OFF position when the rheostat has been adjusted to the position ofgreatest resistance and its ON position when the rheostat is rotated inthe direction of reduced resistance.

9. The vaporizer of claim 8, wherein the lower portion of the base istransparent and further comprising a glow discharge lamp and a barrierresistance arranged in the transparent lower base portion, the glowdischarge lamp and barrier resistance being connected in series to theelectrical power supply and to the ON contact of the switch.

10. The vaporizer of claim 8, wherein the lower portion of the base istransparent and further comprising a glow discharge lamp and a barrierresistance arranged in the transparent lower base portion, the glowdischarge lamp and barrier resistance being connected in series to theelectrical power supply and to a'connecting line between the rheostatand the heating means.

11. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the base istransparent and further comprising a light source arranged in thetransparent lower base portion and connected to the electrical powersupply.

12. The vaporizer of claim 11, wherein the light source is a glowdischarge lamp and further comprising a barrier resistance connected inseries with the glow discharge lamp.

13. The vaporizer of claim 11, further comprising a heat-insulating wallshielding the light source from the heating means.

14. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising a control circuitconnecting the heating means to the connection means for controlling thetemperature of the heat generated by the heating means, the controlcircuit comprising a rheostat, and a copper alloy duct mounted in theenclosed housing of the base, the duct comprising an umbrella-shapedportion covering the heating means and a tubular portion extending fromthe umbrella-shaped portion into the upper portion of the base.

15. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising an outer ringsurrounding the lower portion of the base and defining a gap with thelower base portion, the gap being arranged to receive the lower end ofthe annular container.

16. The vaporizer of claim 15, further comprising a skirt projectingfrom the outer wall of the container and fitting into the gap.

17. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the inner wall of the containercontacts the upper portion of the base for good heat transfertherebetween.

18. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the annular carrier means consistsof a pluralaty of rings of a porous synthetic resin material soaked inthe substance to be vaporized.

19. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the annular carrier means consistsof a plurality of rings of a cellulosic material soaked in the substanceto be vaporized.

20. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the annular carrier means consistsof a plurality of rings of a porous mineral material soaked in thesubstance to be vaporized.

21. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the annular carrier means consistsof a plurality of rings soaked in the substance to the vaporized.

22. The vaporizer of claim 21, wherein the substance is a vaporizablescent.

23. The vaporizer of claim 21, wherein the substance is a vaporizableinsecticide.

24. The vaporizer of claim 21, wherein the substance is a vaporizablemedicinal substance.

25. The vaporizer of claim 21, wherein the substance is a vaporizablegermicide and disinfectant.

26. The vaporizer of claim 21, wherein the rings are of asbestos and thesubstance is dimethyl 2,2- dichlorovinyl phosphate.

the marks to indicate the relative positions of the port means in theouter wall and the rotary member.

30. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising a gripping ring at thelower edge of the rotary member and cooperating detent means on thegripping ring and the outer wall of the container.

31. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising indicating means on topof the rotary member for designating the substance to be vaporized.

1. An electrically heated vaporizer comprising
 1. a base having meansfor connection to an electrical power supply, the base including a. abroad lower portion and a narrower elongated upper portion, the lowerand upper portions constituting an enclosed housing, and b. anelectrical resistance heating means mounted in the enclosed housing andconnected to the connection means,
 2. an annular container and having anupper end and a lower end removably mounted on the base, the containerhaving an inner and an outer wall defining therebetween a closedinterior annular chamber extending substantially the length of thecontainer, a. the inner wall of the container fitting over the upperportion of the base, b. annular carrier means carrying a substance to bevaporized arranged in the interior annular chamber of the container, andc. a bell-shaped rotary member mounted on the upper end of thecontainer, d. the upper end of the outer wall of the container definingoutlet port means for the substance vaporized by electrical heating andthe rotary member defining corresponding port means arranged to be movedinto register with the port means in the container wall by rotation ofthe rotary member whereby the latter port means may be gradually openedand closed upon said rotation.
 2. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein theconnection means comprises a plug-in connection capable of beingconnected to the electrical power supply in a vehicle.
 2. an annularcontainer and having an upper end and a lower end removably mounted onthe base, the container having an inner and an outer wall definingtherebetween a closed interior annular chamber extending substantiallythe length of the container, a. the inner wall of the container fittingover the upper portion of the base, b. annular carrier means carrying asubstance to be vaporized arranged in the interior annular chamber ofthe container, and c. a bell-shaped rotary member mounted on the upperend of the container, d. the upper end of the outer wall of thecontainer defining outlet port means for the substance vaporized byelectrical heating and the rotary member defining corresponding portmeans arranged to be moved into register with the port means in thecontainer wall by rotation of the rotary member whereby the latter portmeans may be gradually opened and closed upon said rotation.
 3. Thevaporizer of claim 1, further comprising a control circuit connectingthe heating means to the connection means for controlling thetemperature of the heat generated by the heating means, the controlcircuit comprising a rheostat.
 4. The vaporizer of claim 3, wherein theheating means comprises two electrical resistance heating elementsconnected in parallel to each other and connected in series to therheostat and the connection means.
 5. The vaporizer of claim 4, whereinthe heating elements are capable of consuming a maximum power of 10watts in dependence on the setting of the rheostat.
 6. The vaporizer ofclaim 3, wherein the rheostat is arranged in the lower portion of thebase and further comprising a rotary pin affixed to the rheostat andextending therefrom through the upper portion of the base to the rotarymember, the rotary pin being coupled to the rotary member for rotationtherewith.
 7. The vaporizer of claim 6, further comprising a highlyheat-conducting duct mounted in the enclosed housing of the base, theduct comprising an umbrella-shaped portion covering the heating meansand a tubular portion extending from the umbrella-shaped portion intothe upper portion of the base.
 8. The vaporizer of claim 3, wherein therheostat is arraNged in the lower portion of the base and comprises anON/OFF switch, and further comprising a rotary pin affixed to therheostat for adjusting the rheostat between positions of increased andreduced resistance, the rotary pin extending from the rheostat throughthe upper portion of the base to the rotary member, the rotary pin beingcoupled to the rotary member for rotation therewith and correspondingadjustment of the rheostat between said positions, and the switch beingarranged to assume its OFF position when the rheostat has been adjustedto the position of greatest resistance and its ON position when therheostat is rotated in the direction of reduced resistance.
 9. Thevaporizer of claim 8, wherein the lower portion of the base istransparent and further comprising a glow discharge lamp and a barrierresistance arranged in the transparent lower base portion, the glowdischarge lamp and barrier resistance being connected in series to theelectrical power supply and to the ON contact of the switch.
 10. Thevaporizer of claim 8, wherein the lower portion of the base istransparent and further comprising a glow discharge lamp and a barrierresistance arranged in the transparent lower base portion, the glowdischarge lamp and barrier resistance being connected in series to theelectrical power supply and to a connecting line between the rheostatand the heating means.
 11. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the lowerportion of the base is transparent and further comprising a light sourcearranged in the transparent lower base portion and connected to theelectrical power supply.
 12. The vaporizer of claim 11, wherein thelight source is a glow discharge lamp and further comprising a barrierresistance connected in series with the glow discharge lamp.
 13. Thevaporizer of claim 11, further comprising a heat-insulating wallshielding the light source from the heating means.
 14. The vaporizer ofclaim 1, further comprising a control circuit connecting the heatingmeans to the connection means for controlling the temperature of theheat generated by the heating means, the control circuit comprising arheostat, and a copper alloy duct mounted in the enclosed housing of thebase, the duct comprising an umbrella-shaped portion covering theheating means and a tubular portion extending from the umbrella-shapedportion into the upper portion of the base.
 15. The vaporizer of claim1, further comprising an outer ring surrounding the lower portion of thebase and defining a gap with the lower base portion, the gap beingarranged to receive the lower end of the annular container.
 16. Thevaporizer of claim 15, further comprising a skirt projecting from theouter wall of the container and fitting into the gap.
 17. The vaporizerof claim 1, wherein the inner wall of the container contacts the upperportion of the base for good heat transfer therebetween.
 18. Thevaporizer of claim 1, wherein the annular carrier means consists of apluralaty of rings of a porous synthetic resin material soaked in thesubstance to be vaporized.
 19. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein theannular carrier means consists of a plurality of rings of a cellulosicmaterial soaked in the substance to be vaporized.
 20. The vaporizer ofclaim 1, wherein the annular carrier means consists of a plurality ofrings of a porous mineral material soaked in the substance to bevaporized.
 21. The vaporizer of claim 1, wherein the annular carriermeans consists of a plurality of rings soaked in the substance to thevaporized.
 22. The vaporizer of claim 21, wherein the substance is avaporizable scent.
 23. The vaporizer of claim 21, wherein the substanceis a vaporizable insecticide.
 24. The vaporizer of claim 21, wherein thesubstance is a vaporizable medicinal substance.
 25. The vaporizer ofclaim 21, wherein the substance is a vaporizable germicide anddisinfectant.
 26. The vaporizer of claim 21, wherein the rings are ofasbestos and the substance is dimethyl 2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate. 27.The vaporizer of claim 21, wherein the rings are of a material of lightcolor assuming a darker color upon being soaked in the substance andreturning to a lighter color upon the substance being vaporized.
 28. Thevaporizer of claim 1, further comprising a gripping ring on the rotarymember for facilitating the rotation thereof.
 29. The vaporizer of claim1, further comprising an indicator on the rotary member and marks on theouter wall of the container, the indicator cooperating with the marks toindicate the relative positions of the port means in the outer wall andthe rotary member.
 30. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising agripping ring at the lower edge of the rotary member and cooperatingdetent means on the gripping ring and the outer wall of the container.31. The vaporizer of claim 1, further comprising indicating means on topof the rotary member for designating the substance to be vaporized.